Iran and Oman have finalized a joint framework for managing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials said, as the 60-day US-Iran memorandum of understanding expired without a broader peace breakthrough.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the joint statement, containing the main points of agreement between Tehran and Muscat on the future administration of navigation in the strait, was in the “final review and drafting stage.” The deal would establish a shared transit route through the waterway, which handles roughly 20 percent of global oil supply.
The development came as US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of American efforts to reopen the strait. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that Washington was not seeking to extend the expiring memorandum.
MOU Deadline Passes Without Breakthrough
The 60-day MOU, which had set a framework for negotiations on a final peace deal, expired on August 17 without agreement on the core disputes. Trump said Iranian officials “want to make a deal, but they’re not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary.” Jared Kushner, Trump’s envoy, described the talks as “very positive and active” while cautioning that “there’s really not a lot of trust between America and Iran after all these years.”
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said the strait would remain closed until the United States honored its obligations under the now-expired MOU. Tehran has reportedly given Washington a “few weeks” ultimatum to meet its demands, including the immediate opening of the waterway and an end to what Iran calls its nuclear threat.
“The problem is not passing messages. The problem is America’s outlook, which is illogical, greedy and controlling,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television.
IRGC Signals Shift to Offensive Posture
As the deadline passed, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps political deputy Brigadier General Yadollah Javani warned that Iran’s military posture would shift from defensive to “offensive form” under new appointment decrees issued by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Javani told state broadcaster IRIB that Iran’s armed forces would adopt “transformative approaches” to deliver “proactive strategic surprises” against adversaries.
The Hormuz framework between Iran and Oman follows the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and would establish a joint working group between the two foreign ministries. Oman’s Foreign Ministry said the discussions explored frameworks for cooperation in navigation and maritime services, emphasizing the sovereignty of both coastal states.
The US had imposed a naval blockade on vessels entering or departing Iranian ports, with CENTCOM stating the southern route through Hormuz “remains free and open for commercial vessels despite Iranian aggression.” But with 230 loaded oil tankers still waiting inside the Gulf, the standoff over the waterway continues to weigh on global energy markets and shipping routes.
Sources: Gulf News; Al Jazeera; Reuters; AP News
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